Hobbs & Shaw

[GeneChing]

This will have to be split off at some future date too.

OCTOBER 05, 2017 4:07pm PT by Borys Kit
Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham 'Fast and Furious' Spinoff Gets 2019 Release (Exclusive)


Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Dwayne Johnson (left), Jason Statham

The film is being written by Chris Morgan.

Just because Universal pushed its next Fast and the Furious chapter back a year doesn’t mean the studio is sitting idle.

In fact, it’s just switching gears to focus on the much-buzzed-about Fast & Furious spinoff that is intended to be a starring vehicle for Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham.

With Fast 9 moved back to 2020, Universal is now officially putting the project on the calendar, dating it for a July 26, 2019, opening.

Chris Morgan, who has shepherded the script chores since 2006's Toyko Drift, is now writing the spinoff that will focus on Luke Hobbs, the Diplomatic Security Service agent played by Johnson, and Deckard Shaw, an assassin character who was one of the primary bad guys in the franchise before being redeemed and joining the motley crew of antiheroes that make up the roll call.

Meanwhile, sources say that one reason for Fast 9's push was to accommodate potential director scheduling. Sources also say Justin Lin may be lining up to return to the franchise and is the top man to helm the core entry of Fast 9.

Johnson first appeared in 2011’s Fast Five and has become a major factor in the franchise's rejuvenation and growth. He has starred in four of the eight films. Statham cameoed in Fast & Furious 6 and co-starred in the last two films. It was during the making of the last installment, The Fate of the Furious, that Universal began mulling a spinoff with the two actors after seeing their chemistry spark in the dailies.

No deals have been made with the actors.

“Fast & Furious is one of Universal’s most beloved properties, and we handle every decision we make surrounding this franchise with great care,” Universal Pictures chairman Donna Langley told The Hollywood Reporter. “The global brand of Fast & Furious is strong and full of iconic characters, and we look forward to continuing to build on the film that started it all, as well as expanding into different narratives beginning with our first spinoff.”

The Fast & Furious saga began as a 2001 mid-budget thriller that was trying to catch the fumes of the street racing culture in the San Fernando Valley around the turn of the century. But, along the way, the movie series reinvented itself into a heist and action franchise that has seen the last two chapters — 2015’s Furious 8 and 2016’s Fate of the Furious — gross $1.5 billion and $1.$1.2 billion, respectively.

Universal has also turned the films into a brand that encompasses consumer products, a theme park ride and, starting next year, a live arena show.

My head reels at spin off puns, plus there's Donnie/Rogue One title plays - oh please, PLEASE, make that the spin off.

From my review - xXx: Return of Xander Cage: Donnie, Tony, Bisping and Deepika:

It remains true to the previous two films, and if successful, could easily perpetuate the franchise with a wider, more diverse cast. In fact, if the Chinese and/or Indian box offices are profitable, it’s easy to envision the next installment pulling another Darius Stone move, with either Xiang or Serena stepping into the xXx lead role.

[GeneChing]

For reference:
Fast and Furious 7
Fast and Furious 6
The Fate of the Furious

THREADS
Fast and Furious 9
Hobbs & Shaw

[GeneChing]

[GeneChing]

I'd watch Bautista v Rock.

I'm going to a screener for Stuber tomorrow. We'll see how it compares to Hobbs & Shaw...

Dave Bautista Rejects Starring in ‘Fast and Furious’ Movies: ‘I’d Rather Do Good Films’
Bautista won't be going up against Vin Diesel any time soon.
Zack Sharf
Jun 29, 2019 3:06 pm
@zsharf


Dave Bautista
Matt Baron/REX/Shutterstock

Dave Bautista isn’t one to mince words on social media, and that was certainly true when it came to sharing his thoughts on the “Fast and Furious” franchise. A fan recently pitched the “Guardians of the Galaxy” actor an idea about playing the villain in a potential “Fast and Furious” spinoff starring Dwayne Johnson and John Cena, who was recently added as a new cast member to “Fast and Furious 9.” Bautista wasn’t having it.

Bautista sarcastically responded to the idea by writing, “Thank you for your consideration,” adding two “throw-up” emojis. If it wasn’t already clear, Bautista threw down shade by using the hashtag: “I’d rather do good films.”

The “Fast and Furious” franchise was back in the news this week as production on the ninth film kicked off, with franchise mainstay Vin Diesel sharing several set videos from the start of filming. The “Fast and Furious” franchise is also releasing its first spinoff movie, “Hobbs and Shaw,” later this summer. The spinoff centers around the title characters played by Johnson and Jason Statham and opens in theaters nationwide from Universal on August 2.

Bautista has the summer action comedy “Stuber” opening July 12. The actor will reprise his Marvel Cinematic role as Drax the Destroyer in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” which will find writer-director James Gunn returning to the director’s chair after originally being fired by Disney for controversial jokes he made on Twitter years ago. Bautista openly criticized Disney after the studio severed ties with Gunn, writing on social media he was “not ok” with the decision and that it would be “nauseating” to work with Disney after the Gunn debacle. Gunn was ultimately reinstated as director.

In addition to “Stuber,” Bautista also has the family comedy “My Spy” from STX Entertainment arriving later this summer on August 23. The actor will also be reuniting with his “Blade Runner 2020” director Denis Villeneuve for the highly-anticipated “Dune” remake, which Warner Bros. has already announced will open November 20, 2020. Bautista is taking on the role of Glossu Rabban in the movie.

Dave Bautista
✔
@DaveBautista
🤢.....thank you for your consideration...🤮 #idratherdogoodfilms https://twitter.com/The_Only_Hybrid/...25855220375553 …

Hybrid Kokujin
@The_Only_Hybrid
@TheRock and @JohnCena will get a Fast and Furious spin off also and @DaveBautista will Be the villain.

8,857
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[GeneChing]

This doesn't need a Warcraft Redemption. It's already doing fine.

Anyonhe see this yet? We were invited to the screener, but we had already had such a run of movie reviews on KungFuMagazine.com that I figured it was time to...

...change gears.

China Box Office: 'Hobbs & Shaw' Revving Up for $75M-$100M Debut
4:47 AM PDT 8/22/2019 by Patrick Brzeski


Universal Pictures
'Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw'

Analysts are split on just how big the 'Fast and Furious' franchise spinoff will be: bulls cite the local popularity of the film's stars — some see a debut well above $100 million — while bears note the much delayed China release date.

More than three weeks after its North American debut, Universal Pictures' Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw is finally revving up for a muscular opening in the massive China film market this weekend. But just how big the tentpole's debut weekend will be is a subject of some debate among box office analysts in the country.

The previous two installments in the Fast and Furious franchise were historic earners, with Furious 7 pulling in $391 million in 2015 and The Fate of the Furious taking in $392 million in 2017. Both totals were all-time box office records at the time, and both films earned more in China than they did in North America (Furious 7 topped out at $353 million domestically and Fast 8 did $226 million).

Universal is again banking on a big showing in China, particularly since Hobbs & Shaw is tracking well behind its core franchise predecessors on a worldwide basis. The David Leitch-directed spinoff has earned $$137 million in North America for a running worldwide total of $ $442 million — and that's against a hefty $200 million production budget, and with no new major markets left after China. Furious 7 finished at $1.5 billion worldwide and Fast 8 at $1.24 billion.

But the franchise's fervent popularity in China still augurs well for strong earnings for Hobbs & Shaw.

"I think we will be seeing a classic Hollywood franchise repeating its success in China, with an opening weekend box office over RMB 500 million ($71 million)," says James Li, co-founder of Beijing-based market research firm Fanink. "Overall, pre-release heat for Hobbs & Shaw shows no big surprises," Li says, noting that local awareness, interest and first choice numbers for the film are roughly on par with where The Fate of the Furious was around this time in its release cycle in 2017.

Rance Pow, CEO of box office tracking firm Artisan Gateway, adds that, "Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham are both very popular action stars in China," both in the F&F franchise and elsewhere. Johnson had three films released in China last year, all of which did well, even if some were weaker in other markets: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle ($78 million), Skyscraper ($98 million) and Rampage ($156 million). Statham's latest release, The Meg, also was a big hit in China, taking $153 million.

China hasn't seen a Hollywood action blockbuster since Spider-Man: Far From Home opened on July 2, which tends to result in pent-up demand for U.S. studio action thrills. Hobbs & Shaw also won't face any "heavy competition in the market until early September," Pow points out.

Citing these factors, some local analysts in China have predicted an opening weekend as high as RMB 800 million ($112 million).

Among the indicators giving other analysts pause are the somewhat slower clip of ticket presales for the spinoff so far, and the significant gap between the U.S. release and the China opening. Low-quality pirate copies of the film have been accessible on torrent sites in China for more than a week.

"Not having the same cast — especially Vin Diesel — is a key barrier this time around, which could partly explain why the heat is not stronger," Li adds. Diesel's brute brand of masculine star power has just as much appeal in China as Johnson's hulking charisma, especially among males in China's tier three and four cities, regions that are important contributors to the earnings of breakthrough action blockbusters.

"We are hoping for a huge Fast & Furious-style response from the filmgoers," says Jimmy Wu, CEO of cross-regional cinema chain Lumiere Pavilions. Wu says his team has pegged the film at a total China run in the range of RMB 2 billion ($282 million). "We had a slow first half of the year at the box office here in China, so everyone in the cinema business is wishing for a big performance."

[GeneChing]

Exceeded predictions. What is it with this franchise?

I should see this just for Leitch's direction.

AUGUST 25, 2019 8:55AM PT
Box Office: ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ Scores $102 Million Debut in China, Nears $600 Million Globally
By REBECCA RUBIN
News Editor, Online
@https://twitter.com/rebeccaarubin


CREDIT: PHOTO CREDIT: FRANK MASI/UNIVERS
Universal’s “Hobbs & Shaw” returned to first place on the international box office charts, thanks to a massive $102 million debut in China.

The “Fast & Furious” spinoff, starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, collected another $120 million overseas, boosting its foreign tally to $441 million. “Hobbs & Shaw” is nearing the $600 million mark globally, with ticket sales currently hovering at a sizable $588 million.

In China, “Hobbs & Shaw” set numerous records, including the biggest August opening weekend ever and the second biggest Hollywood debut of the year behind Disney’s “Avengers: Endgame.” It also marks the franchise’s second-biggest launch in the Middle Kingdom, a record still held by 2017’s “The Fate of the Furious” with $184 million.

Disney’s “The Lion King” also hit a new benchmark, crossing $1.5 billion globally to become the ninth-highest grossing movie of all time. Overseas, Jon Favreau’s photorealistic remake of the animated classic is expected to surpass the $1 billion mark on Monday, which would make it only the ninth title to ever hit that milestone. The movie pulled in $30 million this weekend, led by a $15.9 million debut in Italy.

Meanwhile, Sony and Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” had another strong outing, generating $28 million from 55 international markets. That haul lifts ticket sales to $116.6 million overseas and $239.8 million worldwide. Taraninto’s ode to hippie Hollywood launched in five new territories this weekend, including Mexico with $2.4 million, marking the best start of the director’s career in that country.

Sony’s “The Angry Birds Movie 2” pocketed $10.2 million from 43 markets, taking its foreign ticket sales to $47.6 million. This weekend, the animated sequel bowed in India ($870,000), Spain ($560,000) and Peru ($380,000).

[GeneChing]

DECEMBER 18, 2019 1:28AM PT
China’s Box Office Total Breaks All-Time Record
By PATRICK FRATER
Asia Bureau Chief


CREDIT: COURTESY OF CHINA FILM GROUP

The Chinese box office has broken its all-time yearly record, with local films accounting for eight of the top 10 movies so far in 2019 and a few more anticipated releases yet to come. The previous record total, set last year, of RMB60.7 billion – $8.67 billion at current conversion rates – was overtaken last Friday, according to data from online ticketing agency Maoyan.

With nearly two weeks to go until the end of the year, and a clutch of big titles to be released during the busy Christmas season, 2019’s takings could show several percentage points of growth from last year. Maoyan chose not to issue a forecast, noting that some 2019 releases remain fluid even at this late stage.

The record-breaking haul seemed an unlikely outcome throughout the first half of the year, when the local industry was dogged by uncertainty caused by the Fan Bingbing tax scandal. That triggered a sharp slowdown in production from mid-2018, as well as financial difficulties for studios large and small.

The crucial Chinese New Year period in early 2019 did deliver a record total and a breakthrough for Chinese sci-fi, with “The Wandering Earth” taking RMB4.66 billion ($665 million). But the total did not match the rate of cinema construction, and the season included several disappointments.

Summer was rescued by the unexpected performance of Chinese animated film “Nezha,” which achieved RMB4.97 billion ($710 million), making it China’s second-highest-grossing film ever. And the early autumn, which included a clutch of patriotic movies with releases intended to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic, turned into blockbuster season. Winners were “My People, My Country” and “The Captain” (previously known as “The Chinese Pilot”). It also threw up the unlikely breakthrough of oft-delayed “Better Days,” a local film that got yanked at the last minute from the Berlin Film Festival because of Chinese censors.

Among foreign titles, the only two to figure in the year’s current top 10 are “Avengers: Endgame” and “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.”

Maoyan noted that this year has seen a marked polarization of the Chinese box office. “Nezha” and “Wandering Earth” together account for nearly one sixth of the entire annual total. “China needs more high-quality movies to drive the steady growth of the box office,” it said in an announcement. It highlighted “Song of Youth,” “The Legend of Hei” and “White Snake” as examples of low- and mid-budget successes.

THREADS
Chollywood rising
Avengers: Endgame
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
The Wandering Earth
Nezha

[GeneChing]

F&F formulaic absurd action, a lot like the MCU. A bit disappointing for Leitch as I expected better fight choreo. Statham is the only one who could deliver more than half a dozen moves in one shot. The rest was pretty simple stuff, even for the Rock. There's cameos from Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Hart, all of which felt quite wasted, but at least it sets up a sequel. I'm astounded that this franchise has come so far on it's silly premise but must salute it's originality for not being based on anything beyond all the cliches they can poach, and am eager for the next F&F. It was mindless action eye-candy and I guess that's what sells both here and in PRC nowadays. I get that. Escapist fare is the new opiate of the masses when it comes to films.

The running jokes about GoT were really odd. There were several. What was up with that?

I was also very disappointed after they got all those traditional weapons out. I thought that was going to set up some cool fights, and the justification for the removal of firearms was as plausible as it could be, but the big battle was a bit of a mess. It did make me understand the Return of the Jedi in a way. I never liked the Ewok ending but I get it now as sort of reaction against tech, quite ironic given the CGIness of both franchises. Lucas originally want it to be a Wookie battle (Ewok is Wookie spelled sideways) but he didn't have the budget or the tech. The franchise went back for it in Revenge of the Sith, but it was played out by then.